Jesus Call

Jesus Call

Matthew 9:9–13 (CSB)

9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, “Follow me,” and he got up and followed him.

10 While he was reclining at the table in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came to eat with Jesus and his disciples.

11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 Now when he heard this, he said, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick.

13 Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice. For I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

(1) Jesus went where the sinners were. He did not avoid or shy away from them. He sought them out.

(2) Sinners felt comfortable coming to Him. They did not shy away nor feel unwelcomed.

(3) Jesus had meals with sinners, immoral people whom society and religionists rejected and avoided.

(4) Jesus and sinners were close friends. Look at the scene here: there was a large feast and a party of immoral characters, and Jesus was right in the midst of them. Of course, the purpose of the feast was for Jesus to bear witness. This is important: we are to be out in the world witnessing to sinful men, but we are not to be of the world.